British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's chief of staff, Sue Gray, resigned on Sunday after speculation about internal tensions within his advisory team. Her departure comes just over three months

after Starmer's Labour Party secured a sweeping election victory, raising concerns about the stability of his government.

Gray, a former senior civil servant, had faced media scrutiny in recent weeks, particularly over leaks concerning her salary. Some anonymous officials also pointed fingers at her for Starmer's rocky start as prime minister.

In a statement, Gray said, "In recent weeks, it has become clear to me that the intense commentary surrounding my position risked distracting from the government's essential work of change."

Starmer led Labour to a landslide win in July, promising a disciplined approach and significant reforms after 14 years of Conservative Party rule. However, his administration has already been marred by controversy, including the revelation that he and other Labour politicians received free gifts from wealthy donors. Last week, Starmer repaid thousands of pounds in gifts, but the scandal has politically damaged his government at a time when financial assistance for energy bills is being cut for millions of pensioners.

Despite her resignation, Gray will remain part of Starmer's team, taking on a new role as his envoy for the regions and nations, according to the prime minister’s office. Her replacement as chief of staff will be Morgan McSweeney, who previously served as Starmer's chief adviser.

Gray's appointment as chief of staff in 2023 was controversial, as she had previously led a government investigation into parties at Downing Street during Boris Johnson's tenure as Conservative prime minister. Johnson resigned from office in 2023.

In a bid to stabilize his administration, Starmer has announced further changes to his advisory team, including the formation of a new strategic communications unit headed by James Lyons, a former senior journalist with British newspapers.

As Starmer and his finance minister, Rachel Reeves, prepare for a crucial budget statement on October 30, which will outline their first tax and spending plans, the Conservative Party has seized on the recent turmoil.

"Sue Gray was brought in to deliver a program for government, and all we've seen so far is a government of self-service," a Conservative Party spokesperson commented, claiming that Starmer's government had been "thrown into chaos" by the recent controversies. Photo by GOV.UK, Wikimedia commons.